IMAGE FILE: Clockwise from top left: Pottery Lane Studio & Gallery (clay), Red Thread Design (fashion) , Opal Wing Creations (jewellery), Box Boy (wood), Cori Lee Marvin (watercolour)

WHEN: Friday July 23 noon – 7 pm
Saturday July 24 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday July 25 10 am – 4 pm
Admission. $2, children under 12 free

Wow. So this celebration has been going on my whole life. I remember it going back to young childhood and it seems it started at the perfect age for me–when I was four.
This year we traveled back to Maryland to see my folks then took this week “off” (euphemism for madly tried to catch up) so we can leave later this weekend for Maple Lake. So again I’m missing the Art & Craft show though I know that I’ll still be able to enjoy some of the featured attractions individually during the few weeks I’m at the Lake.

And remember: Admission is good for all three days, just be sure to have your hand stamped at the gates for readmission.

Webcam shot from Southern Ontario Today:

Chapleau River, Ontario - 7.22.10

WHERE: Head Lake Park, Haliburton Village
MORE info/directions www.railsendgallery.com

705-457-2330

July 23,24,25 Haliburton Art & Craft Festival – Make it part of your Haliburton Highlands Summer
More to see and do at the 2010 Festival

There’s more to see, do, and hear this year with Buskers throughout the park, afternoon Kids Art Attack, a Lakeside Lions Club BBQ and the Rails End beer tent (a family friendly spot), Artist demos, Brigitte’s Picks of the Show and the Library in A Box. Make a day of it, or make it a weekend. Admission is good for all three days, just be sure to have your hand stamped at the gates for readmission.

Visit www.railsendgallery.com

for a list of participating artists and daily events schedules.

The Haliburton Art & Craft Festival is presented by Rails End Gallery & Arts Centre.

Rails End Gallery & Arts Centre is a registered Canadian charity devoted to bringing art to life in Haliburton and a member of the Ontario Association of Art Galleries (OAAG), the Ontario Crafts Council (OCC) and Arts Council ~ Haliburton Highlands.

Info thanks to the County of Haliburton, Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Marketing.

Welcome t o your weekend! Have a peek at the lovely shot of Green Lake near West Guilford, which was snapped on July 3, 2010. The skies in the Haliburton Highlands are some of the most beautiful I’ve *seen in eastern north America and this shot exemplifies that gorgeously. (*Seen in person, not in webshots (lol).)

To the weather:

Saturday:

For the remainder of today–Saturday expect the sun to be prominent but the temperatures to be moderate at about 75°F. You’ll have a clear overnight with a low temperature of 57°F. Sunday morning you’ll arise to another sunny day at 68°F. As your Sunday progresses the temperature will climb to 82°F. The overnight low will be about 66°F and will remain clear.

There is no rain in the forecast for this 24-hour period.

Monday brings scattered showers in the afternoon with a high of 79°F  and an overnight low of 64°F. The total precipitation should be about one-half inch.

July 12- 16, 2010 Weather Haliburton Highlands

Tuesday will be cloudy with showers. The high temperature will be about 75°F and the low overnight 64°F. Total precipitation should be about one-third of an inch.

Expect scattered showers in the afternoon on Wednesday July 14, with a high of 81°F and an overnight low of 64°F. There should be 0.1 inch precipitation accumulation.

Thursday will be mainly sunny with a high temp of 82 °F and an overnight low of 66°F. Like the day before, there should be 0.1 inch precipitation accumulation.

Friday will bring isolated showers and a high of 82°f. It will feel like 97°F though (with the day before almost at hot-feeling at a 95-degree humidex) so remember to rehydrate. The overnight low temp for Friday will be 66°F. There will be a trace of precipitation in total.

Saturday will be sunny with a beautiful high of 82°F and an overnight low of 66°F.there is no precipitation forecast for Saturday, July 17.

Have  a great week! Enjoy the webcam shots form late Friday! (Click to enlarge) The BUG REPORT follows.

Lake of Bays - Muskoka

Haliburton

Lagoon City

Reach Harbour, Lakefield

Bug report through July 15

Happy Holiday Weekend to both Canada and the U.S.!

I haven’t checked elsewhere but both Maple Lake, Ontario and where I am (23 miles northwest of Chicago) are having very nice holiday weekend weather compared to last year. That makes me hopeful that Maple Lake especially will have a good summer weather-wise which of course effects lots of other aspects of life, too.

On with what to expect in the next week from  the weather and the bugs:

July 1 Holiday Weekend Weather

Chances are if you look outside or are outside right now you’d see a lovely sight–perfect holiday weather at Sunny and 75°F. It will be be clear overnight with a low of 61°F. Seems like summer is here. Yay!

Sunday morning will be sunny and 66 °F, rising to 82°F by Sunday afternoon with a sunny high of 82°F.

Sunday evening will be clear and 77°F and Sunday overnight will be mainly clear with a low of 68°F.

Long Term Forecast. Southern Ontario. July 5 thru July 10. 2010 - CLICK TO ENLARGE

July 1st Holiday Weather- Click to enlarge

Looks like Deer and Horse flies are going to be most pesky. Your mileage may vary.

Scroll below for More photos from the southern Ontario area today July 3. 2010– including cottage country!

Ontario late June sunset photos

[View with PicLens]

Happy week!

Ontario Harmonized Tax Info

I was planning to put up a “Happy Canada Day ” post and after quite a bit of searching google.ca I came up with very little in the Haliburton Highlands even though I know there is plenty happening. Heck, it’s enough that this is the first official long weekend of the summer, right? That is something to celebrate.*** Scroll down to check out the weather below.

Coincidentally, I was was reading today that if Americans want nationalized health care like Canada and Europe then we shall have to pay taxes as you do. Now that I’ve read through a comprehensive list of what you have been paying for sales tax and what you will as of July 1, Canada Day, for my area of the United States (Greater Chicago) there is __right now__ little difference in taxes. (Illinois’ taxing system is both incredibly complicated and incredibly corrupt. Currently some areas pay 11.50% sales tax.)

Even out here, 25 miles northwest of the City of Big Shoulders we pay 10% sales tax and that includes infant car seats and baby clothes and shoes and of course, we pay our health care out of pocket (including prescription drug taxes, taxes on eyeglasses & contact lenses, etc.) whilst paying relatively high sales taxes overall (the highest in the U.S.– Governor Terminator out in California raised their base state sales tax to 11.5%, allowing county tax to be added so they are probably paying what Ontario is and they still don’t have health care!)

So to get to the point, you really do not have it all that bad especially if you cut your own hair, give yourself your own mani and pedicures, don’t smoke, don’t take vitamins and don’t drive a petrol-fueled car. Just about across the board your so-called sin taxes are going up according to the “Harmonized Sales Tax Guide,” which I’ve pieced together and you can read at it’s full size but clicking on each page twice.
I can’t say I’m thrilled about the gasoline taxes getting higher but we kept that in mind when we needed to replace our family sedan. We aren’t in the income bracket to purchase a hybrid but still we found a decent compact car that sips petrol at about 40 mpg. The fact is we won’t change our behaviours that impact ourselves/the environment without a nudge and sometimes a kick in the derriere and so the new “harmonized” taxes reflect exactly that.

This is completely inappropriate to bring up here but it’s true (skip this paragraph if you have tender sensibilities).
The harmonized sales tax dings diaper-clad babies at the 5% GST but incontinent adults are completely exempt from all taxes. Since diapers are paper products usually, they shouldn’t be in a special category because the are deathly to the landfills so making them exempt from HST makes the “sin-tax” logic go out the window. Same argument for adult diapers and paper-based feminine hygiene products. I’m sure if I read closely I’d find other examples that go back and forth sometimes seemingly tied to logic and others not.
Anyway Happy 143 Birthday, Canada! You look wonderful and are and will remain my favourite country in the world–always.
Canada Day Weather : It is NOT going to rain!

Canada Day Weather Thursday July 1, 2010

Greetings!

I have an important and fun bit of information that I’m going to share and that, if you live in the Haliburton Highlands area or plan to be in the area on June 19, 2010 you’ll be intrigued to hear about. First click on the announcement below:

Minden Kinsmen Truck Pull and Show and Shine June 19, 2010

This year marks the 23rd year that the Minden Kinsmen Club has sponsored the Truck Pull and Show and Shine
in a continuing effort to support the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the community as a whole.
The Truck Pull and Show and Shine will take place on June 19^th 2010 at the Minden Fairgrounds. This is a fun family event which children under age 12 enjoy for FREE (ages 12-16 are $6 -adults, $12).

What will you see?  I’m happy to report that there is something for everyone. New this year is the ATV Mud Bog with prizes presented at the event. Less messy but just as entertaining is the Vintage Vehicle Show for vehicles of an 80 year-and-older vintage. The fun continues with a Truck Pull which starts at 12 noon. There are more details on the flyer above so be sure to click on it to enlarge it for better viewing.

In addition to the activities mentioned, The Truck Pull and Show and Shine will feature Food, Refreshments, Camping and Beer Tents on Site!

Want to know more? Contact the Haliburton Visitor Info Centre at 1-800-461-7677.

This is a non-paid post in support of the Haliburton Highlands continued vitality.

Haliburton Highlands Genealogy Group 20th Anniversary Party
June 12 2010
Come and celebrate on Saturday, June 12th from 1:00-4:00 pm.
FREE admission to all!
Door prizes!
Genealogy booths
Refreshments
Opening Ceremony: 1:30 pm
Keynote speaker: 2.00 pm – Melody Richardson “Memoirs-Legacy Writing for Future Genealogists”

“Melody will explore with us the technique of memoir writing, a form of legacy writing for future genealogists in your families and communities.”

Visit Website
Place: Minden Hills Community Centre Minden
Contact: Linda Heeps Tel: 705 457-2064
Email: hhggroup@gmail.com

From the website:
*Haliburton County is located in Central Ontario Canada just to the southwest of Algonquin Park. The area was settled in the latter years of immigration (mid 1850s) when lands in Southern Ontario were all taken. Children of those settlers and new immigrants were led to believe that they might be able to establish farms in an area too rugged and rocky for that purpose but valuable mainly for lumber.

I knew about the lumber but until now hadn’t realized that people were told that the Highlands were good for farming!

Hey Folks!

Welcome to your weekend! (More events to be talked about here in a few hours!–plus later tonight, the weather for the weekend and week-to-come).

I’m sure you noted the name of this blog. Not much thought needed to go into naming it as it is written on behalf of the Haliburton Highlands and more specifically when an occasion arises, the Maple Lake area, which I believe is properly referred to as the Township of Dysart et al.

There’s a fantastic FREE opportunity, Young Eagle Flights for kids ages 8-17, to fly for free out of Stanhope Airport this weekend which calls to mind some of my own recollections of the airport.

My memories of Maple Lake–and one cannot separate Maple Lake from the airport if you take a quick peek on the map*–is how awesome it is when a plane takes off over the water. I’ll be in my default place–in the lake–hear the sound of the small aircraft engine, and look up to see the undercarriage of said small aircraft zipping by overhead, then watch the plane as it disappears into the distance.

*in the aerial photos it looks closer to Green Lake which it indeed may be

I’ve always loved that. However, when I was younger and my mom was around she expressed her displeasure with the noise. That left me perplexed but I’ll leave it at noting that we all have our own reactions/perceptions of things large and small. So dear mum would gently curse the plane flying just a short distance above us and I would silently cheer for the plane and think “Wow!”
My mum cannot make it up to the lake anymore but every time a plane flies out of Stanhope airport I think of her–then I think, “Cool!”

Free small airplane flights for kids age 8-17 (click on Visit Website for details)

Visit Website
Haliburton/Stanhope Airport Haliburton/Stanhope Airport road Minden
Contact: John Packer Tel: 705 754 2611
Email: airport@halhinet.on.ca

For four years now the Beer Store and its employees have done an annual bottle drive in aid of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

You probably have known a friend, colleague or loved one who has experienced a battle with cancer–perhaps you’ve fought it yourself.  Despite great progress in helping people live with cancer certain types of cancer can be more persistent and deadly and so efforts  to fight this battle must also persist. The Beer Store wishes to help and you can help, too–it is super-easy!

On May 29 & 30 donate your empty beer, wine and spirit containers at your local Beer Store to help find a cure for leukemia and other blood cancers. For more information or to volunteer, please go to www.bottledrive.ca or call 1-866-600-0567.
Volunteers are needed at Beer Store retail locations across Ontario to assist in greeting customers and collecting their empties on:

Saturday, May 29 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 30 between noon and 5 p.m.
You do NOT need to be employed by The Beer Store
Anyone interested in helping this great cause is welcome to come out and volunteer! If you are interested in helping out, please contact the Beer Store, indicating what days and times you’d be available, your community, and the location of The Beer Store nearest you.
All Beer Stores over Ontario
Tel: (866)-600-0567

Fundraising Book Sale
May 29 2010

The Gooderham Fire & Rescue Auxiliary is holding a large Fundraising Book Sale on Saturday, May 29 from 10am -2 pm. All proceeds from this event go to support the Gooderham Volunteer Fire Department.

There will be a a large selection of books from many genres:, romance, fiction, children’s books, cookbooks and more–like records/CD’s, puzzles and knick knacks! There will also be a hot luncheon available. This fundraiser is in support the Gooderham Volunteer Fire Department. You can give to this worthy cause while enjoying a relaxing book-browsing experience as you are “bound” to find some great reading and great bargains.

If you have any books you would like to donate for the sale, please contact Jennifer at 447-2556

Gooderham Community Center Off County Road 507 entrance to Hunter Lumber
Contact: Jennifer Horner
Tel: 705-447-2556
Email: goodhorner@bell.net

Have a great weekend!

Happy Victoria Day and official first weekend for cottaging!

If you had a chance to see a weather forecast or read my post  about  the Haliburton Highlands Holiday Weekend & Long Range Weather Forecast for 5.21 – 5.28 you already do know that the weather this entire week is going to be near-perfect for year-rounders, cottagers and visitors alike.

Today (Saturday) will be nicer than yesterday and tomorrow nicer than today and it keeps going in that pattern for about 5 days straight!

I so wish I could be there!

Regardless, I’ve copied many goings-on in the Haliburton Highlands this weekend and beyond into the album below. There are some fantastically fun things going on all the time. Plus, there is community information from when and where to sign up for swimming lessons to the homeowners association. There are some charitable and community causes that need support. All you need to do is grab the family, show up and be thoroughly entertained. There is plenty more, including talent up from Toronto as well as well-known area entertainment. I encourage you to thumb through and simply click to full size if a page looks interesting. Enjoy!

Whether you are a ‘foodie’ or simply someone that enjoys good company and the enjoyment of food from around the world check out the Epicurious Club get-together this month.

Enjoy gardening but you’d love to extend the gardening season a bit and learn about cost effective and environment-friendly ‘low-tech greenhouses’? Read below about the Extending Garden Season workshop.

Finally, world renown pianist Lucille Chung is the featured performer on May 1st in the Haliburton Concert Series. Get more details below about the Concert Series and check out the music video of Ms. Chung in performance live at the Santander Festival, in Spain!

These are just a few of the exciting, entertaining, fun happenings in the Haliburtons Highlands so be sure to click through to the What’s Happening This Week website to find out what else is happening and what is up next!

The Epicurious Club
April 29 2010

Here are the details:

April celebrates Cajun cuisine of the Acadians – Join us at the home of Epicurious Club Member Joan Barton for Cajun favorites that are sure to inspire. For the Epicurious, come and enjoy food from around the world each month without leaving Highlands East! We meet the last Thursday of each month for a Pot Luck dinner. You bring a food or beverage item of the country or cuisine selected! It’s that easy, it’s free and we dine at members homes. This club is open to all ages, all genders and all foodies! Cheers to good food!

Extending Garden Season workshop
May 1 2010

View and learn about hoop-houses, tunnels, and cold frames…cost effective and environment-friendly ‘low-tech greenhouses’. 10:00 to 3:00 $5 Registration includes lunch. Sponsored by Environment Haliburton! Haliburton Highlands Local Food Coalition, and other local food advocates. To register call:

Melanie at HKPR Health Unit (705 457 1391 x245)
Home of David Bathe near Gelert Francis Road Minden
Contact: David Bathe Tel: 705-286-2950

1220 South Wilberforce Road
Contact: Joan Barton
Tel: (705) 448-3074
Email: highlandscultural@gmail.com

Haliburton Concert Series
May 1 2010

Lucille Chung

May 1st is the first concert for the year, and features pianist Lucille Chung. Lucille was born in Montreal and is now based in New York. She has performed all over the world with more than 50 orchestras. The concert is at 7:30p.m. The three-concert classical music series is sold only as a subscription. The total cost for three concerts is $50 for adults and $25 for students. The other concerts feature Quartetto Gelato on September 11th, and Made in Canada Ensemble (string and piano) on November 13th. To order your subscription, contact Brenda Robinson at 457-2695.

Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion
County Road 21 and Gelert Road
Contact: Brenda Robinson
Tel: 457-2695
Email: brobinson@interhop.net

bibianorucolina — June 18, 2008 — Lucille Chung, piano, plays 3 Scriabin Preludes. Live at the Santander Festival, Spain

Thanks to What’s Happening This Week! April 26 to May 2, 2010 for the great information!

This is an unsponsored post in support of the many activities and services in the Haliburton County (Ontario) area.